Fluid indicator



Nov. 24, 1964 D. M. szYMANsKl 3,158,130

FLUID INDICATOR Filed Feb. 25, 1963 United States Patent O 3,153,130 Filiali? iNlHCATR Donald M. Shieago, lil., assigner to imperial Eastman orporatlon, a corporation of illinois Filed 25, 1%3; Ser. No. 265.?,394 il Claims. tiCl. 'ld-nit?) This invention relates to fluid indicators and in particular to indicators such as for use in refrigeration systems.

In refrigeration systems utilizing fluid refrigerants, it is desirable to provide some means for indicating the charged condition of the system and for indicating the presence of undesirable moisture in the refrigerant The present invention comprehends an improved indicator arranged for facilitated installation in such refrigeration systems and providing each of such desirable indications.

Thus, a principal object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved indicating device.

tAnother object of the invention is the provision of such a device having new and improv-ed means for indicating the presence of a uid and a condition of the fluid when present.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a device arranged for use in a refrigeration system for indicating whether the system is charged with refrigerant duid and for indicating the presence of moisture in the refrigerant fluid.

Still another object of the invention is the .provision of such a device having a first indicator, means for varying the appearance of the first ,indicator as a function of the presence of the duid, and new and improved means for retaining the appearance varying means within the device.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of such a device wherein the retaining means includes a plurality of resilient elements engaging the appearance varying means to retain it in position within the device.

A yet further object of the invention is the provision of such a device having new and improved means for positioning the retaining means for positive retention of the appearance varying means.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such a device including a pair of supports and means on said supports cooperating to retain the appearance varying means against lateral displacement in the device.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG-URE 1 is a plan view of an indicator embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is `a diametric section thereof taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIGURE l;

FlGURE 3 is an isometric view of a first support thereof;

FlGURE 4 is an isometric View of a second support thereof;

FGURE 5 is a fragmentary diametric section of a modified form of indicator embodying the invention; and

FGURE 6 is an isometric view of a irst support thereof.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as shown in FGURES 1 through 4 of the drawing, an indicator device generally designated iii is shown to comprise a body il deining a chamber 12 arranged to receive a fluid, such as a refrigerant duid. Fluid may be conducted to and from the chamber l2 by means of a pair of passages 13 and 1d opening outwardly therefrom through a pair of exteriorly threaded lateral body extensions 15 and lei.

Chamber i2 is defined in part by an upstanding annular Patented Non. 24, 1964i wall i7 having an externally threaded portion lll to which is threadedly secured a retaining ring 19. Ring 19 is provided with an inturned annular flange Ztl overlying a centralbore 2l deiined by the wall 17. Bore 2l effectively delines an opening which opens into chamber i2 to permit viewing of the chamber, as best seen in FIG- URES l and 4. At its inner end, bore 2l deiines an 'annular shoulder 22 having a radially inner ledgeZB for retaining an annular sealing ring 24. A transparent closure 25, herein comprising a glass cylinder, extends across the opening 2l and is urged sealingly against ring 24 by means of the retaining ring flange Z'l. As shown in FG-` URE 2, an annular gasket Zd may be disposed between flange Ztl and closure 25'.

As indicated brielly above, indicator 1t) is arranged to provide both an indication of the presence of the refrigerant iiuid in chamber' l2 and a preselected characteristic of the fluid, such as the presence of moisture therein. To this end, a first support 27 is disposed in chamber l2, being fitted in a cylindrical recess 4S in the wall or^ the body ll opposite the opening Zi.. The support Z7, asbest seen in FlGURE 3, includes a base portion 28 having a pair of spaced upstanding legs 2% and 3i? each having a height suliicient to extend slightly below the ledge 23 of body wall i7, as shown in FlGURE 2. rl`he base portion 2S is further provided with a pair of spaced upstanding lugs 3l and 32 aligned transversely to the direction of spacing of legs 29 and 3@ and extending to slightly above the level of the base portion 28. An indicator plate .33 is disposed on the base 28 to extend substantially between lugs 29, 36, 3l. and 32. As shown in FlGURE l, the upper surface of the indicator plate 33 may be provided with a legend 34, herein illustratively comprising the letters F-U-LL.

Directly above the indicator plate 33 is positioned a refracting cylinder 3S formed of a suitable material such as crystal glass having a coefficient of refraction substantially similar to that ofthe fluid intended to be indicated by the device 2li). Thus, as `shown in FEGURE 1, when the fluid is present in chamber l2, light may pass substantially unrefracted through the closure 25 to the legend 34 and back outwardly therefrom so that a substantially undistorted viewing of the legend may be had. However, when the duid is absent from the chamberlZ, the diiference between the retracted index of the glass member 35' and the air in the chamber 12 causes a substantial distortion of the legend clearly indicating the absence of the fluid from the chamber. The upstanding legs 29 and Sti are preferably spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the length of refracting cylinder 35, and thusly effectively retain the cylinder against lengthwise movement on the support Z7. v

indication of the presence of moisture in the refrigerant fluid is provided by means of a secondindicator 36, herein comprising a pair of pieces of conventional moisture sensitive paper which are blue when dry, but which when contacted by water, turn pink. The indicator paper pieces 36 are carried on a second support generally designated 37 illustrated in FGURE 4. As shown, the support 37 includes an upper portion 38 and a plurality of depending legs 39. As shown in FIGURE 2, the upper portion 3S rests on the upper end of the legs and 3d of the lower support 27. Thus, the support 37 is disposed so as to bring the legs 39 into resilient retaining engagement with the refracting cylinder 3S. The support 3S is retained against the legs 2.9 and 3l? by the downward urging action of the closure member 25, the annular seal 24 yielding sufficiently to permit the closure to hold the support portion 38 firmly against the upper end of the legs 29 and 3d.

The support portion 38 includes a pair of depressed diametrically opposed sections 4t?, each having a small lddd opening 4i therethrough and an opstanding inner tongue 42. The pieces 36 of indicator paper overlie the support sections 40, access by the fluid to the underside thereof being had through the openings 4l to assure a fast response of the indicator paper to any change in the moisture condition of the liuid. The tongues 42 prevent the papers 36 from moving inwardly into a rectangular centrai opening 4d of the support 33 through which opening the legend 34 may be viewed.

The assembly of device itil is extremely simple. With the retaining ring i9 and closure 25 removed to provideV free access to the chamber i2, the lirst support 27 is installed in the recess i8 with the legend plate 33 disposed on the surface of the support portion 28 and the refracting cylinder 35 disposed on top of the plate, as shown in FIGURE 1. The upper support 37 with the indicator pieces 3d installed thereon is then positioned as shown in FIGURE 2 with the depending legs 39 engaging the upper portion of the cylinder 35 and the support portion 38 resting on the upper end of the first support legs 29 and 30. The closure 25 is then installed in the opening 21, the sealing ring 24 having been previously disposed on the shoulder 22;. The gasket 26 is then placed over the closure 2S and the retaining ring 19 is then screwed down on the threaded portion 13 of the bottom wall 17 to force the closure 2S downwardly against the yielding force olf the sealing ring 24 and retains support 37 on the upstanding legs 29 and 3l). The depending legs 39 firmly retain the cylinder 35 centered over the legend 34 against fluid forces which may arise in the course of uid iiow through the chamber 12.

Disassembly of the device il@ is effected by a reversal of the above-described assembly procedure.

Turning now to the embodiment of FIGURES and 6, a modiiied form of indicator device generally designated iii? is shown to comprise an indicator device generally similar to device 10, but having a modified form at first support generally designated 127, as illustrated in FIG- URE 6. More specifically, support member 127 includes a base portion 128 having a pair of upstanding legs 129 and 13S which are relatively short in comparison with legs 29 and 3l) of support 27 and which, as shown in FGURE 5, extend only partially upwardly through the chamber i12. The chamber HZ issomewhat smaller in diameter than chamber l?. of device iti, the inner diameter of the wall M7 being smaller than the inner diameter of the wall Il of device 10, whereby the wall 117 defines a second inner shoulder i415 upon which rests the outer edge of the support sections 140 of the upper support 137. Thus, in device iid, the upper support is carried on the body rather than on the opstanding legs of the first support. In all other respects the device litt is similar to and functions similar to device 1li. In describing the structure of device liti parts similar to corresponding parts of device tti are identilied by similar numerals but one hundred higher.

While i have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

l claim:

1. A device for providing two indications relative to a fluid, comprising: a body delining a chamber arranged to receive a fluid, said body further having an opening extending through a rst portion thereof and opening inwardly into said chamber; a light transmitting closure extending across said opening; first indicating means in said chamber for providing one indication relative to the fluid therein, said means including a irst support abutting said body opposite said opening, an indicator on the support viewable through said closure, and means disposed between said indicator' and said closure for varying the appearance of said indicator as seen through said closure as a function of 4one characteristic of fluid in the chainber; a second support disposed subjacent said closure, said second support having means for retaining said appearance varying means; second indicating means for indicating another characteristic of the fluid in said recess, said second indicating means being carried by said second support to be viewable through saidnclosure; and means urging said closure inwardly toward said chamber, said closure including means for etaining said second indicating means on said second support and said second support in association with said appearance varying means to retain said appearance varying means interposed between said indicator and said closure.

2. A device for indicating the presence and condition of a iiuid, comprising: a body defining a chamber arranged to receive a iiuid, said body further having an opening extending through a first portion thereof and opening inwardly into said chamber; a light transmitting closure extending across said opening; first indicating means in said chamber for indicating the presence of the iuid therein, said means including a first support abutting said body opposite said opening, a visual indicator on the support viewable through said closure, and means disposed between said indicator and said closure for varying the appearance of said indicator as seen through said closure as a function of the absence or presence of the uid in the chamber; a second support carried by said first support to be disposed subjacent said closure, said second support having means for retaining said appearance varying means; second indicating means for indicating the character of lluid in said recess, said second indicating means being carried by said second support to be viewable through said closure; and means urging said closure inwardly toward said chamber, said closure including means for retaining said second indicating means on said second support and said second support in association with said first support to retain said appearance varying means interposed between said indicator and said closure.

3. The indicating device of claim 2 wherein said body includes an annular shoulder at the inner end of said opening; said lirst support includes a pair of upstanding legs extending to inwardly of said shoulder; and a resilient annular seal is compressed between said closure and said shoulder for seaiingly closing said opening and positioning said closure to retain said second support supported on the outer end of said legs.

4. The indicating device of claim 2 wherein said retaining means ot said second support comprises a pair of depending legsl disposed at opposite sides of said appearance varying means.

5. The indicating device of claim 2 wherein said second support is formed of a resilient material and said retaining means thereon comprises a pair of spaced, depending legs resiliently engaging the appearance varying means.

6. The indicating device of claim 2 wherein said second support comprises a liat support element having a central opening aligned with said appearance varying means and a plurality of depending legs on opposite sides of said opening for engaging said appearance varying means.

7. The indicating device of claim 2 wherein said iirst support includes a pair of upstanding legs for supporting said second support and cooperating with said retaining means of said second support in retaining said appearance varying means against lateral displacement in said chamber.

8. A device for indicating the presence and condition of a liuid, comprising: a body defining a chamber arranged to receive a iiuid, said body further having an opening extending through a first portion thereof and opening inwardly into said chamber, and a shoulder at the inner end of said opening; a light transmitting closure extending across said opening; rst indicating means in said chamber for indicating the presence of the uid therein, said means including a rst support abutting said body opposite said opening, a visual indicator on the support viewable through said closure, and means disposed between said indicator and said closure for varying the appearance of said indicator as seen through said closure as a function ofthe absence or presence of the fluid in the chamber; a second support carried on said shoulder to extend subjacent said closure, said second support having a plurality of depending legs for engaging and retaining said appearance varying means; second indicating means for indicating the condition of fluid in said recess, said second indicating means being carried by said second support to be viewable through said closure; and means urging said closure inwardly toward said chamber, said closure including means for retaining said second indicating means on said second support and said second support in association with said shoulder to retain said appearance varying means interposed between said indicator and said closure.

9. The indicating device of claim 8 wherein said second support is formed of a resilient material and said retaining means thereon comprises a pair of spaced, depending legs resiliently engaging the appearance varying means.

10. The indicating device of claim 8 wherein said rst support includes a plurality of upstanding legs cooperating with said depending legs of said second support to retain said appearance varying means.

11. A device for indicating the presence and condition of a uid, comprising: a body defining a chamber arranged to receive a fluid, said body further having an opening extending through a rst portion thereof and opening inwardly into said chamber; a light transmitting closure extending across said opening; indica-ting means in said chamber for indicating the presence of the uid therein, said means including a iirst support abutting said body opposite said opening, a visual indicator on the support viewable through said closure, and means disposed between said indicatorand said closure for varying the appearance of said indicator as seen through said closure as a function of the absence or presence of the uid in the chamber; a second support carried by said first support to be disposed subjacent` said closure, said second support having means for retaining said appearance varying means; and means urging said closure inwardly toward said chamber, said closure including means for retaining said second support in engagement with said tirst support to retain said appearance varying means in terposed between said indicator and said closure.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,811,128 Franck Oct. 29, 1957 2,844,026 Wischmeyer et al. July 22, 1958 3,000,345 Gray et al Sept. 19, 1961 3,085,424 Berg Apr. 16, 1963 

1. A DEVICE FOR PROVIDING TWO INDICATIONS RELATIVE TO A FLUID, COMPRISING: A BODY DEFINING A CHAMBER ARRANGED TO RECEIVE A FLUID, SAID BODY FURTHER HAVING AN OPENING EXTENDING THROUGH A FIRST PORTION THEREOF AND OPENING INWARDLY INTO SAID CHAMBER; A LIGHT TRANSMITTING CLOSURE EXTENDING ACROSS SAID OPENING; FIRST INDICATING MEANS IN SAID CHAMBER FOR PROVIDING ONE INDICATION RELATIVE TO THE FLUID THEREIN, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST SUPPORT ABUTTING SAID BODY OPPOSITE SAID OPENING, AN INDICATOR ON THE SUPPORT VIEWABLE THROUGH SAID CLOSURE, AND MEANS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID INDICATOR AND SAID CLOSURE FOR VARYING THE APPEARANCE OF SAID INDICATOR AS SEEN THROUGH SAID CLOSURE AS A FUNCTION OF ONE CHARACTERISTIC OF FLUID IN THE CHAMBER; A SECOND SUPPORT DISPOSED SUBJACENT SAID CLOSURE, SAID SECOND SUPPORT HAVING MEANS FOR RETAINING SAID APPEARANCE VARYING MEANS; SECOND INDICATING MEANS FOR INDICATING ANOTHER CHARACTERISTIC OF THE FLUID IN SAID RECESS SAID SECOND INDICATING MEANS BEING CARRIED BY SAID SECOND SUPPORT TO BE VIEWABLE THROUGH SAID CLOSURE; AND MEANS URGING SAID CLOSURE INWARDLY TOWARD SAID CHAMBER, SAID CLOSURE INCLUDING MEANS FOR RETAINING SAID SECOND INDICATING MEANS ON SAID SECOND SUPPORT AND SAID SECOND SUPPORT IN ASSOCIATION WITH SAID APPEARANCE VARYING MEANS TO RETAIN SAID APPEARANCE VARYING MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID INDICATOR AND SAID CLOSURE. 